Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific
An Encyclopedia
by James B. Minahan
August 2012, 402pp, 7 x 10
1 volume, ABC-CLIO

Hardcover: 978-1-59884-659-1
$108, £84, 94€, A148
eBook Available: 978-1-59884-660-7
Please contact your preferred eBook vendor for pricing.

From India to Australia and from Cambodia to Tonga, to describe the myriad ethnicities and cultures within the region of South Asia and the Pacific as “diverse” would be a gross understatement. The modern lifestyles and cultural traditions of the peoples in this vast area of the world span a wide spectrum as a result of each nation’s location, origin, and unique historical development.

This comprehensive guide to the Pacific and South Asia provides detailed and enlightening information about the many ethnic groups of this increasingly important region of the world.

Ideally suited for high school and undergraduate students studying subjects such as anthropology, geography, and social studies, Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia provides clear, detailed, and up-to-date information on each major group in South Asian and Pacific Island countries, including India, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, Singapore, Australia, Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands.

Organized alphabetically by ethnic group, each entry provides an introduction followed by accessible descriptions of the origins, early history, cultural life, political life, and modern history of the ethnicity. Alternate names, major population centers, primary languages and religions, and other important characteristics of each group are also covered. Beyond being a valuable resource for student research, this book will be enlightening and entertaining for general readers interested in South Asia and the Pacific.

James B. Minahan is a freelance writer and researcher. His published works include several ABC-CLIO and Greenwood titles, such as Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World; Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States; and Nations without States: A Historical Dictionary of Contemporary National Movements.

Reviews

"This book provides a ready guide to the diverse array of ethnic groups living in South Asia and the Pacific. Each entry provides the geographic distribution of the ethnic group as well as its historical evolution and high points of its religious and cultural development. At the end of each entry, resources are provided for additional reading. These citations are particularly helpful for ethnic groups that are not as well known to American students."—ARBA, January 1, 2013

'This work serves as a useful reference source for both students and also for the general library reader and is recommended for larger public and academic libraries."—Booklist, January 1, 2013
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